July 3 (1950-07-03) – September 29, 1950 (1950-09-29)
The Hazel Scott Show was an early American television program broadcast on the now defunct DuMont Television Network. The series, hosted by Hazel Scott, ran during the summer of 1950, and was one of the first U.S. network television series to be hosted by any person of African descent.[1][2]
The Hazel Scott Show was a 15-minute-long musical program hosted by pianist and singer Hazel Scott, who would perform show tunes and other numbers live on the show. Scott was no stranger to performing before she began appearing on the program: she had appeared in nightclubs, on radio and television programs, on Broadway, and in five feature films. The program first aired on July 3, 1950. The show was produced and distributed by the DuMont network, and aired Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 7:45 pm to 8 pm ET on most DuMont affiliates.[1]Charles Mingus and Max Roach were among the musicians to back her in these programs.[3]The Joan Edwards Show was in the same time slot on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Trinidad-born Hazel Scott was described as a "novelty on the entertainment scene",[4] and the series was well received by critics. Variety wrote: "Hazel Scott has a neat little show in this modest package. [The] most engaging element [...] is the Scott personality, which is dignified, yet relaxed, and versatile."[4]
Despite critical acclaim and decent Hooper Ratings, the series was cancelled after just a few months. On June 22, 1950, Scott's name had appeared in Red Channels, an anti-Communist publication which named supposed Communist sympathizers. Although Scott appeared voluntarily before the House Un-American Activities Committee on September 22 and vehemently denied the charges, The Hazel Scott Show found itself without a sponsor.[4]
The DuMont network cancelled the series just one week later, as her being listed in Red Channels meant the series would be very unlikely to get a sponsor, and DuMont likely could not afford a sustained program in the time-slot. The final network telecast was on September 29, 1950. The network replaced the series with The Susan Raye Show which only lasted from October 2 until November 20.[1]
Tim Brooks and Earle Marsh, The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows, Third edition (New York: Ballantine Books, 1964) ISBN0-345-31864-1
Robert Kenneth Carr, The House Committee on Un-American Activities, 1945–1950 (Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press, 1952)
Karen Chilton, Hazel Scott: The Pioneering Journey of a Jazz Pianist from Cafe Society to Hollywood to HUAC (Michigan: University of Michigan Press, 2008)
